"That doesn't mean that he's done, that he's finished, that he is not capable. He is still a big threat, but for whatever reason right now we are adjusting to what we are seeing," he said.

Whether the Yankees keep him on the bench or put him in another postseason game, "it doesn't mean by doing so we're not going to have to deal with legitimate questions," Cashman said.

"That's all for another day," he said. "All we are concentrating on is the here and now and what is best for us today."

The 37-year-old slugger with 647 career home runs didn't like his seat in the dugout.

"I'm not happy about it. Obviously, you come to the ballpark feeling you can help the team win. When you see your name is not in the lineup, it's obviously disappointing," Rodriguez said before Game 4. "You've got to accept being a cheerleader and also make sure that you're ready when you're number's called."

While Rodriguez was surrounded by a pack of reporters on the field Wednesday, some Tigers looked on in bewilderment as Detroit took batting practice.

"I've played this game for a long time and bottom line is, anytime I'm in any lineup, I think that lineup is better. It has a better chance to win," A-Rod said.

"I don't care if it's an All-Star Game. I feel I can bring that type of impact and I'm also at any point ready to break through. I thought my at-bats in some of those games got a little bit better. The last two, I hit two rockets. Anytime I'm in the box the game can change and everyone knows that," he said.

Cashman said manager Joe Girardi has the final say on the lineup, but a move like benching Rodriguez is also discussed higher in the organization.

"The relationship I have with the manager is strong, and we always — that's the way I want it to be," Cashman said. "We always go through what the lineup should be and how it should look we think. He asks my opinion. He asks his coaches' opinion, and that's the way it's been."

Granderson joined A-Rod on the bench after another hitless night Tuesday dropped him to 3-for-29 in the postseason. Granderson hit 43 homers with 106 RBI this season.

"These are also the guys that got us the best record in the American League and put up the highest run total in our league, or one of the highest run totals in our league, so they're also the reason for a lot of good that's taken place," Cashman said.

"But in the short term, right now, it's been bad. Is that a true snapshot of what their contributions are and who they are as players? It's not. But it's certainly something we're dealing with and living with right now, and we're doing everything we possibly can to make the adjustment and get it going," he said.

Nick Swisher, who was benched in Game 3, returned to the lineup in right. Eric Chavez started at third in place of Rodriguez. Brett Gardner started in Granderson's normal spot.

"It's not that I want to sit Alex Rodriguez," Girardi said. "But the struggles have continued, like for some other players as well, and I've sat some other players, as well."